10+ luxury family and dog-friendly UK holidays
Nine years ago we started our family with a furry baby. I know. You shouldn’t humanise dogs and honestly, we don’t. However, when it comes to travel we always have Tin Box Dog in mind just as we do our kids. If we’re going abroad we have to make arrangements for her to stay with relatives, and if we’re staying closer to home we search for family and dog-friendly UK holidays.
Luxury family and dog-friendly UK holidays
The latter is often more complicated than it sounds. Many resorts and holiday providers welcome families but only offer lower grade dog-friendly accommodation.
Other high-end places love four-legged friends, but would rather you didn’t bring the kids. Finding luxury family and dog friendly UK holidays can be laborious.
However, times are changing. Holiday providers are starting to come on board with the trend for holidaymakers wanting to bring along their pets.
If you are in the same position as us – wanting to holiday with your children and pet without slumming it – I’ve been doing some research.
Here are my suggestions for top-notch places to stay that will be a hit with your whole family.
Scroll to the end for more tried and tested family and pet-friendly holidays as recommended by us!
Dog-friendly cottages in Cornwall
The Valley Cornwall is a gated resort offering luxury cottages with lots of facilities for the exclusive use of guests. This is a place we have stayed ourselves and can highly recommend as having a luxurious feel without any awkwardness that you’re there with the kids and pooch.
Each cottage is styled with Italian furnishings, and the cottage we stayed in even had vaulted ceilings. Accommodation ranges from two to three-bedroom cottages, sleeping up to six people each, so The Valley Cornwall is a good option for larger families.
Luxury features include good free wifi, plus baby-sitting and maid service for an extra charge. The Valley Cornwall is perfectly situated for exploring South Cornwall’s family attractions, dog-friendly days out and beaches.
Here’s our holiday video:
Dog-friendly features: dog walk on-site, dog-friendly cottages, and a great location to explore. Read our full review of the luxury cottages at The Valley Cornwall.
Dog-friendly log cabins in the Peak District
What better location to treat your dog, and little people, to epic landscapes and hikes than the Peak District?
Here is where you’ll find the Darwin Forest Country Park lodge resort nestled in a woodland setting. We stayed here with Tin Box Dog one spring. The luxury self-catering lodges come with Scandinavian styling, free wifi, and some are even lodges with hot tubs.
There’s a forest walk for dogs and endless opportunities to stretch their legs beyond the resort. Plus, there’s plenty of activities to keep kids entertained, like the indoor swimming pool, cycling, tennis, archery and zorbing.
For younger children there’s two on-site soft play areas – one large and included in your stay and another where you can pay as you go. Perfect if the weather isn’t with you.
Dog-friendly features: dog walk on-site, dog-friendly cottages, and a great location to explore. Read more about the luxury lodges and and lodges with hot tubs at Darwin Forest Country Park in our review.
Luxury family holidays in Scotland at The Four Seasons Hotel, Perthshire
You can find The Four Seasons Hotel on the banks of Loch Earn in St Fillans – a wonderful area for walking.
The restaurant is two AA Rosette award winning and serves contemporary Scottish cuisine. Families with dogs are welcome in the main hotel or its six secluded chalets.
I particularly like the look of these little log cabins in the woods which come with all the mod-cons of a hotel as well as baby monitoring. Children under three stay for free and kids aged three to 11-years-old are charged half price for bed and breakfast.
Dog-friendly features: a pet concierge, pet menu, walking and grooming services. Book The Four Seasons Hotel*.
Dog and child-friendly cabins in North Yorkshire
If you’re looking for more luxury family holiday parks in the UK then take a look at Forest Holidays’ Cropton site in North Yorkshire.
The luxury cabins here are set in a glorious woodland meadow, deep in the heart of Cropton Forest. Not only are the North York Moors on the doorstep, walkies can literally start right at your cabin door. The top spec Golden Oak cabins come with fluffy robes, a hot tub, an en-suite in the master bedroom, under-floor heating and eco-friendly toiletries.
You can even book in-cabin spa treatments. Forest Holidays have dog-friendly cabins in Forestry Commission owned woodland in nine locations across Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire and Scotland.
Dog-friendly features: dog biscuit on arrival, endless walks, up to four dogs in a cabin. Dogs stay for £10 per night. www.forestholidays.co.uk
A city break with kids and dogs at Old Town Chambers, Edinburgh
These luxury apartments are set in a medieval close off the world-famous Royal Mile and are a short walk from the Princes Street Gardens, with access to plenty of walks.
Everything about these serviced apartments is five star, from the beautifully styled interiors to the drench showers and GHDs available from reception. You can also order Valvona & Crolla breakfast and dine in boxes if you don’t fancy catering for yourself.
Dog-friendly features: dog bedding, ‘poop bags’ and doggy treats. Book the Old Town Chambers*.
Dog-friendly activity holidays in Llandeilo
This characterful converted cart house called Llandeilo Cottage is one of many dog-friendly luxury holiday lets available through Snaptrip, which specialises in last minute cottages. This two bedroom property can accommodate up to six people and boasts exposed beams, a farm house style kitchen and stunning views.
Close by there’s two beautiful beaches and the Brecon Beacons for stretching dog and human legs.
Take a look at our last family holiday in the South of Wales.
Features at Llandelio Cottage to keep the whole family cosy and happy include a wood burning stove, wifi, all the mod cons and 3/4 of an acre of natural woodland grounds. Snaptrip has properties across the UK.
Dog-friendly features: large enclosed lawn, plenty of nearby walks. www.snaptrip.com
A family and dog-friendly hotel in Hampshire
Looking for a luxury and dog-friendly hotel in Hampshire? Check out Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens. This historic hotel welcomes children and pets with dedicated garden rooms and activities aimed at families during the school holidays.
Kids receive a goody bag with games, duck food and a soft toy. Each room comes with an Espresso machine, Molton Brown toiletries and wifi.
There’s also indoor and outdoor pools, complimentary bike hire and a babysitting service. The treasure hunts in the hotel grounds sound like a lot of fun.
Dog-friendly features: maps of walking trails, healthy meals from non-GM and additive free Arden Grange pet foods, dog baskets, blankets, a bowl and chewy toy. Dogs stay for £25 per night. Book Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens.
Luxury family weekend breaks in Worcestershire where your dog is welcome too
Hallmark Stourport Manor is a top option for dog-friendly UK holidays. This Victorian country house hotel overlooks Stourport-on-Severn. The family rooms have recently been given a facelift and can accommodate up to two adults and two children.
Stourport Manor offers families use of an indoor swimming pool, wifi and 23 acres of grounds. It’s also close to some of the Midlands’ top family attractions like West Midlands Sarafi Park and Severn Valley Steam Railway.
Zoos and railways are always a hit with our girls. Hallmark offers a collection of 28 hotels across the UK.
Dog-friendly features: a personalised card and welcome pack including dog treats, paw mat, a dog bowl, towel and map of walks around the hotel grounds and nearby. Dogs stay for £15 per night. www.hallmarkhotels.co.uk
Baby and dog-friendly holiday cottages in Devon
Higher Wiscombe is an award-winning set of three converted barn cottages are located in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just four miles from the spectacular Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and The South West Coast Path.
There are also beaches close by at Beer, Branscombe and Sidmouth.
Here’s some our favourite things to do in East Devon.
The cottages at Higher Wiscombe are stylish and comfortable with Egyptian cotton sheets, 6’ wide double beds and under floor heating. On site there’s a games room and an outdoor heated pool which you can book for exclusive use.
One barn also comes with its own cinema room – perfect for family movie nights! Baby equipment is also available. Premier Cottages has properties across the UK and Ireland.
Dog-friendly features: sofa throws, poop bins & bags, dog cages, beds, treats, bowls and even a free Dicky bag to store the poo bags in when out walking www.premiercottages.co.uk
Dog-friendly cottages in Scotland
The Antonine Wall Cottages in Argyll are two stylish cottages that have been converted from a listed 1820’s stable block just seven miles from Stirling.
Each cottage has its own private fenced area amongst the five acres of secluded grounds to keep pets safe. Human guests can enjoy the hot tub, Netflix and shared play area for children. There’s also a swimming pool.
Dogs, cats, hamsters and other pets are all welcome. Embrace Scotland lists more than 2,500 properties.
Dog-friendly features: water bowl, suitable disposal equipment (poop bags), a pet welcome snack, as well as designated pet towels, throws and vet details. Book Antonine Wall Cottages*.
A family and dog-friendly hotel in Norfolk
The traditionally styled Victoria Inn is part of the Holkham Hall Estate in Norfolk. It’s renowned for its wonderful locally sourced food and offers a children’s menu or smaller portions of the adult meals for the more adventurous.
Doggy visitors will love that it is only a short stroll to the golden sands of Holkham Beach and the Kennel Club award-winning Beach Café which has a Wash ‘n’ Wag dog wash for sandy pooches.
The Victoria offers a spacious two bedroom attic for families with pets. Dogs are also welcome in the rest of the rooms in the main building.
Dog-friendly features: pets are given treats and their own comfy bed. www.holkham.co.uk/stay-eat/the-victoria-inn
Search for more dog-friendly holidays for families on Booking.com*.
Tried and tested: the best dog-friendly holidays UK
We’re been adding to our reviews of the best dog-friendly holidays in the UK. Here’s a few you might like to check out with your kids and hound.
Please note that this list includes places we have be invited to stay and review for the blog. We may have received free accommodation in exchange for coverage on the blog, but we were not paid.
- Bryn Parc, The Mumbles, Wales
- Seaview Goran Haven Holiday Park, Cornwall
- Hendra Holiday Park, Cornwall
- Bosinver Farm, Cornwall
- St Ives Holiday Park, Cornwall
- The Valley Cornwall
- Darwin Forest County Park, Peak District
- Andrewshayes Holiday Park, Devon
- Ladram Bay, Devon
- Woodovis Park, Devon
- Blackdown Yurts, Devon
- The Moorland Garden Hotel, Devon
- The Grand Hotel, Devon
- Ross Park Caravan Park, Devon
- Western Meadows Glamping, Cornwall
- Manor Farm Caravan and Camping Park, Devon
- Strawfields campsite, Devon
- Langstone Cliff Hotel, Devon
If you’d like to try some dog-friendly holidays in France Dais Like These has some personal recommendations for you.
Do you have a favourite spot to holiday with your pet? If so, I’d love to hear your recommendations!
For more travel advice and reviews take a look at my tips for smashing travel with kids and sign up to my newsletter.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links marked with a *. If you click on these I may earn some commission on any purchases you make. This does not affect the price you pay. Main image courtesy of Forest Holidays. All others as attributed.
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I was really impressed with the variety of places and locations. We often holiday in our own caravan so we don’t have to worry about whether or not our dog is welcome. But this bit of research has got me thinking differently about how we holiday.
It’s always lovely to be able to take them with you, isn’t it?!
What beautiful places! No, we don’t have a dog but if we did, he’d certainly come with us. Not sure if our guinea pig would appreciate a holiday though……
Joanne Brady recently posted…Middleham Castle, Middleham, North Yorkshire
I think you are right about the guinea pig. When I was a kid we used to take out rabbit and guinea big camping. I think they were totally nonplussed! 🙂
We have a collie, Betsy, and she’s a big part of the family. We haven’t holidayed abroad for 8 year and that’s partly because of the dog. We are big fans of ‘staycations’ anyway, but it’s just easier to have a holiday with the dog than make arrangements for her to be looked after by someone else. We stayed in a Forest Holidays lodge last year actually (in Scotland) and took her with us – one of the best long weekend breaks we’ve had!
That’s great to know about Forest Holidays. They look fab. We have done a lot less international travel since getting our dog. Kennels are so expensive and I don’t have the heart to put her in one. She always stays with my parents if needed. They spoil he rotten! 🙂
Ridiculously, though our dog is now seven years old, we’ve never taken him on holiday with us. If we go to my parents’ house he comes, otherwise he tends to stay with my mother in law or my mum. These all look like great options!
Colette recently posted…The Enchantment of Chester Zoo – a guest review!
We use my mums doggy hotel too. I don’t have the heart to put her into kennels. But the best option is always if we can bring her with us 🙂
LOL. I think they welcome families without pets too 🙂
I want a dog now just so I can have a legit reason to go to one of these places.
Aly recently posted…Family Hike Through Prior Park Landscape Gardens, Bath
One day we hope to get a dog but holidays are the one thing that puts us off! Great to know so many places cater for them x
Oh that Scottish cabin looks divine!
Sally recently posted…What do Tween Girls do on Instagram?
Doesn’t it just! I’d love to spend a cosy few nights there
Hi Claire, I wish I’d found this list earlier! Very useful. I’ve been having mixed success searching for dog-friendly cottages on airbnb. We’ll be checking out these luxury hols very soon! Thanks!!
Glad to be of help 🙂
Hi Claire. I wonder if huskies be welcome to Old Town Chambers, Edinburgh.
It’s always worth asking them. I wouldn’t class a husky as a huge dog.
These look like amazing places to stay dog or no dog! Are these just for dog owners? Thanks for the post!
No, they are for non-dog owners too 🙂
Greasy blog! Add Lake Verney hotel in Wales to this list please, it’s amazing. We have only just got a dog and took him there earlier this year. If rather stay and holiday at home if he could not come! We will definitely try some of these other places out. Big thanks.
So glad you found it useful!
Awesome holidays! Thanks for sharing your experience!